Nerdist, MSNBC, CNN, and KTLA examine the writers strike

I observed that while 'The Mehdi Hasan Show' examines the politics of ‘Andor’ for Revenge of the Sixth "qualifies as an entertainment post, I still plan on posting a Sunday entertainment feature tomorrow. No 'Saturday Night Live' highlights on Sunday until next fall, after the strike is resolved? No problem. I have something else planned. Stay tuned." That "something else" is the writers strike itself. I begin with Nerdist's The Hollywood Writers' Strike Explained.

After weeks of negotiations, for the first time in 15 years, the Writers Guild of America has officially gone on strike. Dan Casey breaks down everything you need to know about why this strike happened, how long it might last, and what it means for you, the viewers at home, on today’s episode of Nerdist News!

Dan Casey called the writers strike "the most important thing happening in the world of entertainment right now." I agree, which is why I'm blogging about it today. Besides, who am I to argue with Nerdist, let alone MSNBC, CNN, and KTLA, who also reported on the strike? Follow over the jump for their segments on the work stoppage.

I'm sharing two MSNBC clips about the writers strike, beginning with What the writers strike is all about.

Alex Wagner explains the issues at the heart of the Writers Guild strike as streaming has drastically changed the media landscape.

Alex Wagner answered a question I had about TV news writers, since I've seen news writing categories at the WGA Awards. The WGA represents them as well, but under a different contract, so they'll keep working while the writers of the scripted shows are walking the picket lines. The second clip from MSNBC I'm sharing, Hollywood screenwriters go on strike, concludes with that point as well as mentioning that the parent companies of the news channels are on the other side of the negotiating table.

Production has already shut down on many television shows after more than 11,000 writers represented by the Writers Guild of America went on strike after they failed to come to an agreement with the major studios. Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw explains what’s at stake.

Stephanie Ruhle used to work at Bloomberg, so I'm not surprised she had a guest from there. He observed that the studios appear to be waiting to finalize the contracts with the DGA and SAG-AFTRA before settling with the WGA, which is what happened 15 years ago. History doesn't repeat, but it sure does rhyme. Also, we are stuck watching the news programs instead of the comedy shows for the time being. I hope my readers adapt, because I know they like viewing current events through comedy.

Speaking of comedians looking at current events and important issues, CNN interviewed Adam Conover, who ruined things, in Film and TV writers are striking. Hear how this affects you.

More than 11,000 members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) are set to go on strike for the first time since 2007. The move could bring an immediate halt to the production of many television shows and possibly delay the start of new seasons.

Conover made this issue not only about a living wage and work conditions for writers, but also about income inequality by pointing out the compensations of the studio heads, including the head of Warner Brothers-Discovery, the parent company of CNN. I hope that works for him and the WGA.

KTLA 5 made the writers strike the top story on Friday's newscast, as my readers can hear Fourth day of WGA writers strike continues in Los Angeles opening with "We begin with..."

The fourth day of the Writers Guild of America strike continued on Friday. As productions on various projects begin to shut down, there are no signs of progress toward an agreement.

Thousands of writers and their supporters are picketing Sony, CBS and other film and television companies. The writers are striking for better pay and job protections.

"We're fighting for writers to make a living wage," picketer Liz Flahive said. "For a middle-class writer to be able to eke out a real living as a writer has become harder and harder."

KTLA's Chris Wolfe reports on May 5, 2023.

That was worth watching just for the strikers' perspectives alone, to say nothing of restating the issues over which they are striking.

I close with a point and a program note. The point is one I put together in Disney rethemes Splash Mountain and delays reopening Disneyland, responses to protests and pandemics, then recycled in California theme parks may reopen as early as April 1, no fooling! A pandemic update and Disneyland reopens as more than 100 million Americans are fully vaccinated, a pandemic update.

[As] I first wrote in 2011, "America is quite clear about its screwed up priorities­. My experience has convinced me that the surest way to get Americans to act is to mess with their entertainm­ent." I elaborated on that in both Possibly (not) the last Detroit Fireworks Show and Christmas music from the Cadets and Crazy Eddie's Motie News, adding "Americans want their entertainment, and will do just about anything to keep it going."

I expect both the studios and the writers will try to exploit those desires to get the American public on their side. Whichever side succeeds is the one that will have the better outcome.

The program note is that one of the major issues of contention is artificial intelligence (AI). That was the subject of my footnote to Three videos from Vox for Earth Day: "Vox is also uploading videos about A.I. That's even more of a science fiction is now idea, so I might return to it. Stay tuned."